Rotary indicator



Feb. 28, w DUNNING 1,899,140

ROTARY INDICATOR Filed Jan. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet i PM E. Dimming w. E. DUNNING 1,899,140

ROTARY INDICATOR Filed Jan. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 28, 1933.

gwwntoz WE. flail/11729 Z :u 4% W Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. DUNNING, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCASKEY REGISTER COMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO ROTARY INDICATOR Application filed January 12, 1929. Serial No. 332,149.

The invention relates to indicators for cash registers and the like, and more particularly to a rotary indicator adapted to simultaneously indicate the amount of a purchase 6 through sight openings in the front and rear of the casing to the clerk and customer respectively.

The object of the improvement is to provide an indicator comprising a plurality of 10 rotatable cylinders, each having digits from naught to nine upon its surface, means being provided for independently rotating each cylinder by the movement of the respective type bar of the cash register or adding machine; a second set of similar cylinders being located preferably in alignment therewith, each one of said second set of cylinders being coordinated in movement with one of the cylinders of the first named set. The digits are arranged in reverse position upon the second set of cylinders, and a sight opening is provided for displaying one row of digits of each set of cylinders.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of an adding machine of the McCaskey type, showing the rotary indicator associated therewith, so that the machine may be used as a cash register.

Fig. 2, a fragmentary rear elevation of the rotary indicator;

Fig. 3, a transverse vertical sectional view through the rotary indicating mechanism;

' key adding machine, and it should be understood that the same is applicable to any form of cash register or adding machine having vertically movable type bars. The adding machine is shown generally at 10 and may be mounted upon the usual base 11, provided with a cash drawer 12, in order to use the same as a cash register.

The keys are indicated generally at 13, and are adapted to be depressed in the usual manner and through the ordinary mechanism provided in such machines. The depression of any key controls the amount of movement of the respective type bar 14:, the type bars being linear and vertically movable.

After the desired keys have been depressed, the operating lever 15 is then pulled down and through the usual mechanism the type bars are raised to their respective posit-ions and the amount of the item is printed upon the paper strip 16.

The above is the usual operation of adding machines of this character, and it is believed that no further description of the construction and operation of these parts is necessary.

In carrying out the invention, a detachable indicating unit including a plurality of rotatable cylinders is mounted above the type bars and arranged to be operated thereby, one cylinder being operated by each type bar to the extent of movement of the respective type bar. These cylinders are indicated at 17, 18, 19 and 20, and may be rotatably mounted upon a shaft 21 supported in uprights 22 of any suitable design and construction mounted upon the top of the adding machine.-

In the machine illustrated, items up to ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents may be recorded and indicated. Therefore, only four type bars and four respective cylinders are shown.

The cylinder 17 is adapted to be operated by the type bar in the tens column of dollars, and this cylinder indicates the tens of dollars recorded.

In the same manner. the cylinder 18 is operated by the type bar for the units of dollars, and the cylinders 19 and 20 indicate the tens and units of cents, and are operated by the respective type bars.

Each cylinder 17 to 20 inclusive, is independently rotatably mounted upon the shaft 21, and each of the cylinders is provided with a pinion 23 fixed thereto and engaged by a rack bar 24, which may be vertically slidably mounted in any suitable manner and provided with a pull spring for normally holding the same in contact with the top of the respective type bar.

Each of the cylinders 17 to 20 has digits from naught to nine arranged'in order around its periphery, and reading from top to bottom when facing the front of the machine, as shown in Fig. l. a a

The row of digits along themedian line of these cylinders is adapted to be exposed through a sight opening 26 inthe casing 27, which may cover the indicating mechanism,

these figures being visible through this sight 7 opening from the front or clerksside of the adding machine or cash register, so as to indicate to him the amount of the'ite'm he has just recorded.

For the purpose of also having an indication to the customer of the amountv of the purchase, a second series of cylinders may be mounted in alignment with the cylinders above described, preferably being rotatably mounted upon the shaft 21. p

- This second series of cylinders is shown at 28, 29, 30 and 31, and one cylinder of each set is coordinated in movement with the corresponding cylinder of the other set.

This may be accomplished by rigidly connecting thecylinders 17 and'28 together, in order thatthey will move in unison and by connecting the other cylinders together as by gearing or the like.

For instance, the cylinder 29 and the cylinder 18 may each be operated in unisonby means of the gears 32 and 33 fixed upon the cylinders 29 and 18 respectively, these gears meshing with pinions 34 and 35 respectively, fixed upon a shaft 36,which may be journaled in suitable bearings 37 carried by the uprights 22.. 7

The cylinders 19 and 30 have fixed thereon gears 38 and 39 respectively, which mesh with pinions 40 and 41 respectively, upon a shaft 42 journaled in bearings 43, supported upon the uprights 22 and the. cylinders 20 and 31 have fixed thereto gears 44 and 45 meshing with pinions 46 and 47 1:espectively,1nounted upon a shaft 48 which is journaled in bearings 49 also carried by the uprights 22.

The cylinders 28 to 31 respectively are pro- 7 vided around their peripheries with digits located in reverse directions to those upon the cyllnders 17 to 20 inclusive, and the median row or figures upon the cylinders 28' to 31 inclusive, isvisiblethrough a sight opening 50 1 in the rear or cnstomers side of the casing 27.

From the above, it will be seen that as each of the cylinders 17 to 20 inclusive is rotated, the corresponding cylinders 28 to 31 will be rotated a similar distance, so that the same item will appear simultaneously to the customer and clerk through the sight openings 50 and 26 respectively. f

When the keys are depressed to record the type bars will drop back to the normal positions and in order to hold the indicating cylinders in the indicating position, until the next transaction isrung up, means are provided for preventing the rack bars from dropping back to the normal position as the type bars return to their normal positions.

This means may include a rocker shaft51, having a plurality of'rocker arms 52 fixed thereon, each arm having a post 53 against which a pwal 54 is adapted to be normally held as by a spring 55. p

A rocker arm 56 is also fixed upon the shaft 51 and connected to a pull spring 57, which may be attached to any stationary portion of the machine for normally pulling the rocker arm 56 upward and rocking the rocker shaft 51 in a direction to engage the pawls 54 with the several rack bars 24.

A link 58 is pivotally connected to the outer end of the rocker arm 56, and provided at its lower end with an elongated slot 59 which receives a pin 60 upon a lever 61, fulcrumed as at 62, upon any suitable stationary part of the machine.

A hook arm 63 is adapted to engage the free end of the lever 61, this arm being carried by the usual dashpot provided in adding machines and cash registers and arranged to be operated by the operation of the lever 15.

Thus it will be seen that when the rack bars 24 are raised, by the movement of the type bars 14, the pawls 54 will engage the several rack bars and hold the same in the raised position, so that the indicating cylinders will remain in the indicating position to which they have been moved when the type bars drop back to the normal position upon the return movement of the operatinghandle.

The indication of the amount of the purchase to the customer and clerk will thus remain visibleuntil' the next transaction is rung up upon themachine, at which time, with the initial downward movement of the operating lever or handle, the dashpot will, at the same time, move through the hook arm 63, pull down the lever 61 and through the link 58 and rocker arm 56, the rocker shaft 51 will be rocked to release the pawls 54 from the rack bars 24. r V

The rack bars will immediately drop back to normal position, resting upon the tops of the type bars 14, and as the same are moved upward to the positions controlled by the operation of the keys and operating handle,

the new item will be indicated simultaneously to the customer and clerk, and remain visible until another transaction is rung up.

I claim 1. In combination with amachine of the character described, provided with vertical movable linear type bars, an indicating unit including a plurality of independently rotatable indicating cylinders corresponding to the type bars, rack bars for rotating the cylinders, said rack bars being disposed in the path of and arranged to be raised by engagement with the type bars, pawls for holding the rack bars in raised position, means for releasing the pawls at the beginning of each operation of the machine, a second set of reversely arranged indicating cylinders, and shaft and pinion means operatively connecting each cylinder of the second set with one of the cylinders of the first set.

2. In combination with a machine of the character described, provided with vertically movable linear type bars, an indicating unit including a plurality of independently rotatable indicating cylinders corresponding to the type bars, rack bars for rotating the cylinders, said rack bars being disposed in the path of and arranged to be raised by engagement with the type bars, a rocker shaft, pawls on the rocker shaft for holding the rack bars in raised position, means for rotating the rocker shaft for releasing the pawls at the beginning of each operation of the machine, a second set of reversely arranged indicating cylinders, and shaft and pinion means operatively connecting ea ch cylinder of the second set with one of the cylinders of the first set.

3. In combination with a machine of the character described, having an operating handle and provided with vertically movable linear type bars, an indicating unit including a plurality of independently rotatable indicating cylinders corresponding to the type bars, rack bars for rotating the cylinders, said rack bars being disposed in the path of and arranged to be raised by engagement with the type bars, pawls for holding the rack bars in raised position, lever means operatively connected with the operating handle for releasing the pawls at the beginning of each operation of the machine, a second set of reversely arranged indicating cylinders, and shaft and pinion means operatively connecting each cylinder of the second set with one of the cylinders of the first set.

4. In combination with a machine of the character described, having an operating handle and provided with vertically movable linear type bars, an indicating unit including a plurality of independently rotatable indi' cating cylinders corresponding to the type bars, rack bars for rotating the cylinders, said rack bars being disposed in the path of and arranged to be raised by engagement with the type bars, a rocker shaft, pawls on 

